Ride Honors Victims

After 2 Young Bicyclists Were Killed In '87 Accident, Davie Created Bike Path System

November 14, 2009|By Robert Nolin Staff Writer

It was a tragedy that devastated two families and galvanized a town: Two young girls struck down and killed while riding their bikes on what was then a country road.

In the 22 years since, the town of Davie has carved out an astounding 135 miles of meandering bike paths and horse trails, averting an incalculable number of accidents and possibly even fatalities.

"I really do think that it has saved lives, and kept a lot of kids from being hurt," Alice Hedges said of the bike path system the town initiated after the death of her daughter Hilary one Sunday morning in October 1987.

Hilary, 11, was riding with her friend Brooke, 10, in the 3100 block of 130th Avenue when the driver of a van swerved off the road and hit them, killing them instantly.

The 19-year-old driver, sober and drug free, had finished an overnight shift at the gas station where he worked and possibly had fallen asleep at the wheel. He later was sentenced to five years in prison for vehicular homicide.

Today, the town will host a memorial bike ride in honor of the girls, starting at the site where they died. On the spot now stands a brick and bronze marker, about 5 feet tall, bearing images of the girls "whose deaths brought an awareness of the need for safe bicycle paths."

"It was the catalyst that told the Town Council we had to start addressing safety for children with bike paths," recalled Bonnie Stafiej, the town's special projects director.

Within two months, city officials had earmarked $150,000 for bike paths. Within six months, construction began on a three-mile path along the street where the tragedy occurred. Within a year, the first of two decades of semi-annual bike rides was held.

"For something so tragic, for the town to turn around and make it so positive, to me that was wonderful," said Linda Oliver, Brooke's mother. To mark the 20th anniversary of the opening of the first main bike path, today's 6.5-mile ride will again be dedicated to Brooke and Hilary. Oliver, who now lives in Fort Lauderdale, will speak at the memorial. The bike paths now connect the two dozen parks in the 35-square-mile town.

"The town should be proud of themselves as to what they've done," said Hedges, who now lives in Boynton Beach.

"Our family is so grateful to the town of Davie for keeping their memory alive," Oliver said.

Robert Nolin can be reached at rnolin@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4525.

See more

Watch a video report on the memorial bike ride at SunSentinel.com/trails